If they were only slightly worried before, they were completely terrified now. Applejack was the most dependable in the group, and was always a valuable asset and friend. They had to find her. No matter the cost. They searched for something, anything, that could be used as a trail, and finally found something. A blood stain, on the wall behind Applejack's last spot. And laying on the floor, smeared in blood, was Fluttershy, her wings fluttering, a knife beside her. Rainbow Dash picked her up, but the slammed her against the wall. "What have you done?! What did you do with Applejack?!"

"U-uh, Rainbow Dash? What's going on, why are you all looking at me?"

"Because Applejack's gone, and you have a knife right beside you..."

Rarity spoke up. "Um, I don't mean to interrupt, but it would seem that there is a sticky, rather warm... oh no."

Sure enough, there was a red substance on Rarity's white coat. Everypony eyed each other suspiciously. They started to look around, and tried turning, pulling, twisting, and pressing everything in sight. Finally, Rainbow Dash found a switch, and activated it. A panel swung forward, and inside was a little room. In the room, in a bowl, sat a note.

You have half an hour to find Applejack. Remember, not everything is as it seems.

Rainbow Dash threw a chair at the wall. "What the buck is that supposed to mean!? Bucking riddle mongrel..."

Twilight slapped Rainbow with a plate. "Rainbow Dash! Get a grip! We need to focus, and think of what he means... wait, not everything is as it seems... as it seems! What it looks like may not be what it actually is!"

Twilight ran around, tossing chair and plate aside. "Me and Fluttershy found a key, and a candlestick that didn't look normal. Maybe... aha! Look, the candlestick has a keyhole, so if I just... done!" She had put the key in the bottom of the candlestick, a mechanism clicked, and the bottom swung open. A small, serrated blade dropped out, with a note attached.

"May this help you, for whatever task you find ahead."

"So, that was supposed to help us save Rarity? Twi, why didn't you save her?!" Rainbow Dash was furious, her eyes swimming with rage.

"I didn't know this was here! It was a guess that I presumed wrong because of my uncertainty towards most situations!" Twilight levitated the knife, and drew blood over the bowl. Once the blood hit the bottom, a chime sounded, indicating the hours passing. "We need to hurry." Twilight breathed more than spoke, and they rushed to the other room. Scanning the blood brought up very little evidence, but it was enough. They followed the trail for what felt like a hundred lifetimes, and found themselves at a wall. Quite literally. The very end wall of the house stood in front of them, and the trail ended there. Twilight pounded the wall in frustration, even breaking a bit of it away. She gasped, for when she had removed the piece of the wall, a dim light shone through the crack. She picked up the bookshelf with her magic, and rammed the wall with fury. It crumbled away, and they stood staring into a long, damp, moldy hallway.

"Well, there's no time like the present." Rainbow Dash was getting impatient.

They descended the staircase, with only the dim light of Twilight's horn to guide them. As they made their descent, they felt a chill waft over them. They had nagging feelings, telling them to turn back, to escape. But they knew it would be folly, for the figure had said he closed the house off from the outside. They passed by several rooms, each furnished with a specific form of torture. Pinkie Pie, completely oblivious to the fact of what these devices were, decided to inspect them all, touching every separate part of them. Twilight sighed, rather tired of this ridiculous pink mare fondling these contraptions.

"Pinkie Pie, you do know what those are for right?"

"Yes silly! I've used them a bit myself before." Pinkie giggled.

Twilight went wide eyed, but decided not to question it. As they continued down, they heard a muffled banging noise, followed by a whispered scream. They hurried down the steps, and when they reached the bottom, came upon a vast, stone dome. In the center, on a stone slab, was Applejack, and the figure stood behind her. He was keeping her bound and gagged, soaked in kerosene, hooves tied behind her back. Under the slab, a red and orange glow escaped, and warmth rose up from the gap.

"Well done. Now hurry, she has but moments before the table collapses, and she plummets to her death. Clock's ticking."

Twilight looked around, panicking. She saw another bowl by the slab, and ran over to it. She pulled the knife up to her hoof, and sliced. She winced, as blood dripped into the vessel. Once the blood hit the bottom, a grinding sound could be heard. The stone slab had rotated, and slid up, dumping Applejack on the ground. She stood up, shaking. "H-hey, y'all. Ah'm alright." She turned to their host. "Ah don't know what the buck you were thinking, but after this is all over, Ah will find out who you are."

"Do you think this frightens me? You'll find out soon enough, if you are patient."

Applejack eyed him, tempted to buck him unconscious right there. But she restrained herself, knowing he was their last hope of getting out of there. "Fine, but don't think the Princesses won't be hearin' 'bout this."

"They have already been informed. They are spectating at this very moment. Please, return to the table. The next course awaits thee... awaits you."

The five mares eyed him suspiciously, but did as instructed.

Author's Note

Another song reference, see if you can spot it!

Hint: it has something to do with kidnapping *winks